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Republican Club Roars Back To Life

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

NEW TAMPA - Dormant for several years, the New Tampa Republican Club has a new charter and officers.

Last week, about 40 people pledged support to the group, which is part of the county, state and national organization. They also elected Mathew Fleming, president; Christi Slaven, vice president; Michael Morriss, treasurer; and Heather Weintrobe, secretary.

After the meeting, Fleming, a Tampa Palms resident who moved here two months ago, said the first priorities will be getting a network of people organized and growing the organization.

"We have a very strong energetic, nucleus group," Fleming, a Coca-Cola executive, said. "I want to do it on the 21st century level; take it on the Internet; broaden the group; and focus on the issues."

The club rejuvenation began as an outgrowth of a dinner conversation, Slaven said. She helped organize three meetings, beginning in January with 12 people, which grew to about 25 in February.

Slaven, a 15-year resident of Pebble Creek, said the more they talked "the more frustration we felt with the direction of the Republican Party."

The group did not know that the New Tampa Republican Club had been chartered in spring 1999 and offered meetings and programs for a couple of years. But she also learned from the Hillsborough County Republican office that the New Tampa club had "disintegrated" and that this group could start anew.

"We want to be policy driving more than necessarily supporting one individual," she said.

At the March meeting, there was talk of conservative values, families and less government.
Slaven said the group also hoped to recruit younger members to the Republican Party and get New Tampa residents to vote.

According to information provided by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office, there are almost 23,000 registered voters in New Tampa. Of that, almost 9,000 are Republicans. Several thousand are registered with no party affiliation.

At the meeting, Paul Phillips, treasurer of the Hillsborough County Republican executive committee, welcomed the new club and congratulated the newly elected officers.

"I'm very impressed with this group. To see a group like this form in such a short time with such enthusiasm is exhilarating," he told the members.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: New Tampa Republican Club meeting

WHEN: 6 p.m. April 14

WHERE: Stonewood Grill, 17050 Palm Pointe, Tampa

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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